Tom Idle is at the bar in a court of Justice, his hands bound, knees bent in supplication to Goodchild, now an alderman (signaled by the furred robe and gold chain of the office) serving as magistrate. Goodchild's hand shields his eyes as he turns away from Tom. Beside him a clerk is writing a letter "To the Turnkey of Newgate". On the left Tom's one-eyed accomplish is swearing evidence with his left hand instead of right hand as his female accomplice bribes the clerk behind his back. To Tom's left a fat beadle comforts Tom's weeping mother. A row of fire buckets hang from the rafters. The right of the frame is decorated with a scourge, manacles and a hangman's rope; on the left frame hang the mace of the City of London, the alderman's gold chain and a sword of state
Alternative Title:
Industrious apprentice Alderman of London, the idle one brought before him and impeach'd by his accomplice
Description:
Title engraved above image., "Plate 10."--Below frame., Tenth plate in the series of twelve: Industry and idleness., Two captions below image. On the left: Psalm IX. Ver: 16. The wicked is snar'd in the work of his own hands". On the right: "Leviticus Ch: XIX. Ve:15. Thous shall do no unrighteousness in judgment., and Reduced copy of no. 2980 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 3.
Publisher:
Printed for & sold by Robt. Sayer at [the] Golden Buck near Serjeants Inn, Fleet Street
